SHABBAT ACROSS AMERICA; OUTREACH DESIGNED TO HELP JEWS RECONNECT.

Byline: Holly J. Andres Daily News Staff Writer

Shabbat Shalom. Sabbath peace. Hopeful words, they are spoken and sung by Jews at temples every Friday night.

Those words will be emphasized at Temple Solael and other local temples as the outreach event Shabbat Across America begins Friday.

``This event was started by the National Jewish Outreach Program three years ago. Our temple has participated the last two years. Basically, what it's all about is attracting more individuals to celebrate the Sabbath and draw them closer to their heritage,'' said Sandra Weiss, co-chairwoman of planning for the event and sisterhood president of the West Hills temple.

While there are about 200,000 unaffiliated Jews in the San Fernando Valley, Shabbat Across America is not a membership drive for temples, said Cantor Bernard Savitz.

``The goal of Shabbat Across America is to give Jews a good feeling about the Sabbath,'' Savitz said. ``Those who are interested in joining our temple at a later date, however, will be able to get information on that, but that's not the goal.''

Striving to follow the Fourth Commandment to ``remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy,'' Temple Solael has planned a variety of traditional ways to inspire and teach those Jews who are re-examining their religious roots.

Savitz said prayers and music will accompany a kosher dinner that precedes the 8 p.m. service. During the service, an interactive discussion about the meaning of Shabbat is planned. After the service, at the Oneg Shabbat, or joy of the Sabbath, food and Israeli dancing will conclude the celebration.

Rabbi Ron Herstik, who has been with the Reform temple for almost three years, said Shabbat Across America helps to symbolically and ritualistically remind Jews that they are part of a family with traditions and memories. American Jews, he said, have a tendency to think of themselves as independent people, but they should also recognize the possibility of interdependency on others. He believes that Jews who come to experience a Shabbat Across America service will be reminded that reconnecting with the Jewish community can be a personal and spiritual resource in times of tragedy, loneliness and joy.

``The Sabbath is a day of rest from work. It's contemplative, and it's a time to praise God. Jews have this in common. We're a temple that has been very open to interfaith couples, singles, all types of families. We're reaching out to the community and inviting them just to come and visit,'' Weiss said. ``Our hope is that those who haven't kept up their ties will participate in this Shabbat. Maybe they will say, I want to come back.''

Shabbat Across America service, 8 p.m. Friday. Reservations necessary by Monday for 6 p.m. dinner; $12 adults, $10 for children under 10, free for children under 3. Temple Solael, 6601 Valley Circle Blvd., West Hills, [phone].

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PHOTO Rabbi Ron Herstik, left, Sandra Canfield, Sandra Weiss and Cantor Bernard Savitz prepare for Shabbat.

Tina Gerson/Daily News